Apparatus for handling fruits



June 13, 1939. w. G. ALLEN APPARATUS FOR HANDLING FRUITS Filed March 22, 19am 5' Sheets-Sheet 1 June 13, 1939. w, LLE 2,162,415

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING FRUITS Filed March 22, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheejc 2 June '13, 1-939. w. G. ALLEN 2,162,415

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING FRUITS Filed March 22; 193'! s Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June 13, 1939 I ounce sTA'rEs PATENT OFFICE" 12 Claims. (01. 214-1n Thlsinvention relates to the art of preserving, storing and delivering perishable articles, particularly' small fruit such as cherries, berries and the like.

An object of my invention is the utilization of a preserving liquid as the sole means for con-- veying the fruit to the place of storage, and later for discharging and'conveylng the fruit from the storage container to a remote point for V D packaging or further disposal thereof.

An object of my invention is the. provision of a comparatively large free and unobstructed dishargepassage leading from the bottom or lower portion of the storage container in which pre- 5 serving is carried out, said passage having a discharge port arranged to extend above the level of the preserving liquid in the storage container, and being variably shiitable to locations below, the surface of the liquid causing a gravity flow of the, liquid and fruit from the container, thereby eliminating the use of obstructions such as. valves etc., in the discharge passage which might damage the fruit in its passage from the container.

A further object is the provision of a circula tion system for the preserving liquid exteriorly of the container for initially conveying the fruit to the container to be stored therein, and subsequently utilizing the fluid forconveying the fruit from the container to a designated point of discharge.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a storage container'or tank of comparatively large capacity having a-fiuid outlet at the bottom thereof and a fluid and fruit inlet at the top, and a fluid circulation system including pump means for withdrawing the fluid from the container outlet and returning the fluid to the container at the inlet, together with means for introducing' the fruit into the circulating fluid at a point intermediate the pump and the inlet.

In discharging the .fruit from the container, 1 'utilize a large pipe connecting an outlet port in the lower part of the container, and by the pro vision of a pivoted elbow-swinging joint connection with the container, the discharge end of the. pipe -is shiftable from a position above the level of the liquid to a point below toeffect anatural gravity flow of liquid and fruit from r the container. Means for separating the fruit from the liquid and returning the liquid to the "container are also provided.

y In the handling of fruits, such as cherries, it is highly important that the various handling 55 operations shall be carried out without subjectby its superimposed weight. I

ing the cherries during the introduction of the fruit into the preserving containers, as well as during the discharge of the fruit therefrom, to damage or bruising, and my system is carried out in such' a manner as to effectively prevent ii injury, either from the weight of the fruit itself or from the flowing operations of charging and discharging the fruit into or from the preserving vessels.

More specifically, the charging of the fruit into the receptacles is effected by a circulation 'of the preserving liquid into which the fruit is introduced, and the discharge of the fruit from the "vessels is likewise accomplished by a circulation of the preserving liquid into the vessel as a dis.- charge of the fruit and liquid therefrom takes place.

In carrying out this process, I preferably employ apreserving liquid 01. a specific gravity which tends to hold the fruit in suspension, and

while the specific gravity of the-fruit is actually somewhat greater than that of the preserving liquid, it is possible to maintain such a balanced relationship as to effect discharge of the fruit by a flotation process, so long as a circulation of the liquid is maintained.

Under ordinary conditions, it will be apparent that it the discharge of the fruit and liquid were effected by opening a drain leading from the container, the liquid would quickly pass out of the receptacle at a faster rate than the fruit, which would allow the liquid to be exhausted from the container before all of the fruit was discharged and cause the fruit to be damaged In my novel system of handling, a stream of liquid is flowed into. the receptacle as. the discharge operation takes place, so that the fruit is maintained in a more or less suspended condition, the liquid flowed in during the discharge being either caused by a re-circulation of the discharging liquid or the flowing of a suitable quantity of the preserving fluid from an auxiliary supply.

The return of the liquid can be controlled so that the level of the fruit and liquid in the container will gradually drop as the discharge is effected, such control being produced either by a pump having a predetermined capacity to flow the circulated liquid at the desired reduced rate,

'-or by valve means introduced into the recirculation conduits whereby a portion 'of the liquid may be shunted to storage while the remaining portion is used for the recirculation supply.

By way of summary, the apparatus of my sysing or discharging of the storage container and.

means for discharging the fruit and liquid from the storage container by gravity and recirculating flow.

Other and further iobjects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation diagrammatically illustrating my complete system, certain parts being broken away and shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 1;

- Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the pivoted elbow connection of the fruit discharge pipe with the storage container; and

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of my fruifdischarge tube showing its application to a tank car; and

Fig. 5 is a top plan view diagrammatically illustrating an embodiment of my invention, showing its adaptation to a plurality of storage containers.

Referring to the drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts in the several figures thereof, I denotes a storage tank or container having an inlet opening 2 in the top and a closure 3 for sealing the container after the same has been filled with the fruit and suitable preserving liquid, such as sulphur dioxide solution of proper concentration.

The container is provided at or near the bottom with the outlets 4 and I, the outlet 4 having a communicating conduit or pipe 6 leading therefrom to the intake opening of the centrifugal or impeller pump 1. A suitable valve 8 is preferably provided for controlling the passage of fluid from the container through the pipe l.

The fluid discharged by the pump 1 is conveyed upwardly through the pipe 9 and discharged into either the pipe II or the pipe II, depending upon the position of the three-way valve I2. With the valve I2 in full line position, the liquid being circulated will be conveyed through the pipe III and discharged at I3 into a receiving trough I4 and conveyed back into the tank I through the opening 2.

The articles or fruit to be preserved. such for example as cherries, berries or other small fruit. is first emptied from the lug boxes (not shown) into a suitable chute "leading to the inspection and sorting belt or .conveyor I6. This belt is slowly moved at a substantially uniform rate in the directionof the arrow in Fig. l to permit inspection of the fruit and removal of objectionable fruit and foreign matter. From the end of this picking or inspection belt, the fruit isautomatically emptied on to an elevator I1 consisting of a drive belt with cross cleats, as shown in the drawings, although a bucket elevator may be substituted therefor, as may be required for the handling of certain types of produce to be preserved. This conveyor elevates the fruit to a discharge point above the receiving trough H.

From the elevators I1 the fruit discharges into the receiving trough 'I and is conveyed by the preserving liquid, which is being discharged at It from the pipe I 0, as hereinbefore described. I

fruit from being recirculated with the preserving I duced into the tank I may be conveyed to a suitable storage space or container ll through the pipe II upon shifting the three-way valve I2 to its dotted line position.

The closure} is now closed and, if desirable, the valve 8 may also be closed, thus maintaining the fruit and its preserving liquid in sealed condition within the container I and thereby preventing the evaporation of said fluid during the preserving period, or until the time when it is desired to dispense the fruit for packaging or other purposes.

The port 5 in the lower portion of the tank I communicates with a discharge pipe'22 having a suitable pivoted elbow connection 23, thus permitting swinging movement of the pipe 22 in a vertical plane. The discharge end of the pipe 22 is normally retained above the level of the liquid in the container I by any suitable means, such as a counter-balancing weight 24, the upper end of the pipe 22 being preferably curved at 25 and provided at this point with a flexible fabric discharge hose 26. This hose extension is preferably maintained at an elevated position until it is desired to discharge the fruit from the container.

When it is desired to remove the fruit from the tank I, the discharge pipe 22 is swung to lowerthe end 25 below the level of the fluid and fruit in the container I causing the liquid and fruit to flow by gravity from the tank. The fruit and I liquid may thus be conveyed by the flexible'hose member 26 to any point desired or into smaller shipping containers, if the fruit is to be dispensed in' this manner. Or, as shown in the drawing, the liquid and fruit may be separated upon discharge, the fruit being conveyed to a suitable point of discharge, while the liquid is returned to the container I or the storage container III for further use.

In order to accomplish this separation, I employ a trough 21 suitably disposed to receive the fruit and liquid from the hose 26, the fruit being conveyed by the natural circulation of the liquid in the trough toward the discharge pipe 28 located at the desired liquid level in the trough. This trough discharge pipe leads back to the intake side of the impeller pump 1 and is provided with a check valve 29 to prevent flow of fluid from the tank I to the trough 21 when the pump is not operating.

A three-way valve 30 is provided in this conduit 2! and to this valve is connected a branch pipe 3| leading from the auxiliary container IS. The valve 20 is shiftable in one position to establish communication between the trough 21 and the pump 1 and ,to a second position to interrupt such communication and establish communication between the storage container 19 and the pump 1. This valve may be further moved to a position cutting off flow from the tank I 9 as may be desired under certain conditions of operation of the system.

An inclined conveyor 32 similar to the conveyor I! is disposed with one end thereof in thi:

Any surplus fluid displaced by the fruit introtrough 21 below the surface of the liquid and by means of this conveyor. the fruit is elevated from the trough and discharged into packaging containers, or otherwise disposed of as may be required. Screens 23 and 34 are preferably provided to prevent the fruit from entering the discharge pipe 28 Or into the space between the upper and lower reaches of. the conveyor 32.-

When it is desired to remove the fruit from the tank I, the discharge pipe 22 is lowered, permitting the fruit and liquid to discharge into the trough 21. The pump 1 and conveyor 32 are put into operation with the three-way valve 30 in full-line position establishing communication between the pump 1 and through discharge 2.. As the fluid and fruit is discharged, it is conveyed by its associated liquid to the conveyor 32 where it is elevated out of the liquid and discharged at 35, while the liquid is returned by the pump 1 and pipe I! to the tank I by way of the trough II. This circulation may be continued until all of the fruit is removed from the tank I.

If there is any tendency of the fruit to float in the liquid, the three-way valve I2 may be shifted to dotted line position which will ,convey the return fluid through the return pipe II to the auxiliary or liquid storage chamber I9. Under these conditions, the level of the liquid will gradually drop in the tank I, causing the fruit to be gradually introduced into the opening 5 and as the level drops, it will be necessary to gradually lower the end of the discharge pipe 22 until the tank I is completely emptied of the fruit and liquid. During this discharge operation, the valve 8 is preferably closed.

The three-way valves 30 and I2 may now be shifted to theirother positions, whereupon the fluid from the storage pipe I! is withdrawn through pipe II and forced by the pump 1 through the pipe I and discharged at I3 into the return trough ll, thus again filling the tank I.

Cherries or other fruit may be introduced into the trough II at this time. The three-way valve Il may also be operated to supply the main container I with additional preserving liquid from the storage container when desired.

In the adaptation of my invention, it will be understood that the 'fruit, together with its preserving liquid, may be shipped to distant points in tank cars, such as I have illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, this method of shipment being particularly eiiective for transferring large quantities of the preserved fruit without injury to the fruit incident to the transfer operation. Such a vehicle, which may be also in the nature of a tank truck, is preferably provided with a discharge pipe 22' pivotally connected to the tank at 23' and having a flexible discharge hose 26, all corresponding to the discharge pipe shown in Fig. 1 of my system.

It will be obvious that the pipe 22' is retained in its vertical position until it is desired to empty the fruit from the car or truck, at which time the end of the pipe may be lowered, permitting the fruit and preserving liquid to pass therefrom under the influence of the gravity had within the tank I.

Suitable means are provided at thev delivery or truck for the recircula tion of the preserving liquid during the discharge point of the tank car of the'vehicle, including means for separating the fruit from the liquid during this recirculation.

This apparatus is similar in principle of operation to that disclosed in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

A suitable receiving trough 36 is provided havof fruit whereupon the pipe 22 ing a fluid discharge for returning the liquid to the inlet opening 3' in the top of the container I' of the tank car or truck. A ioraminous basket 40 isdisposed within the trough 36 forseparating the fruit from the port 31 leading to a motor driven impeller pump ll having a return pipe 39 liquid, permitting return of the liquid by the pump 38 of the tank'l'.

A flexible discharge hose 26' on the end of the pipe 22' is placed within the basket 40 and upon lowering of the discharge pipe, fruit and liquid will flow together by gravity from the container I into the basket 40. The pump is set into operation, returning the liquid to the container and this recirculation is continued until the basket or container I is fllled'with the-desired amount is elevated to interrupt the discharge. The container or basket III may be emptied or replaced and the process continued until the fruit has been completely removed from the car container l'.

I have shown a portable apparatus in Fig. 4,

but it is contemplated that a system identical with that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may be used for emptying as well as charging the tank car or trucks.

In a commercial embodiment of my invention, as disclosed in Fig. of the drawings, I may utilize a system embodying a battery of tanks or containers having a common cooperating filling liquid recirculating and fruit discharge means. In this figure the parts corresponding to those disclosed in Fig. 1 are given like reference characters.

In this arrangement a plurality of tanks or con-- tainers Ia are arranged in rows or groups, each tank having a top inlet opening 2a, a closure 3a therefor, and a screened liquid discharge port 4a connected with the valve controlled passage or conduit to. The conduits So from all of the containers are preierably connected with their common return pipe Oh for returning the preserving liquid to a power driven impeller pump in.

A three-way valve 30a is provided in this return connection and has a branch pipe or conduit 28b connected with the return conduit 28a of the fruit and liquid receiving troughs 21a. A screen 33a for separating the fruit from the liquid in this trough is provided, as seen in Fig. 5, the fruit being separated and removed from the trough by the conveyor 320.

A fruit receiving and conveying trough Ila receives the fruit from the conveyor lid and the preserving liquid from the end I311 of the fluid circulating pipe Ila, this pipe conveying liquid from the impeller pump la. The trough Ila is provided with branch troughs Mb extending past the openings in the rows of containers Ia. Each of these branch troughs is provided with a gate controlled discharge trough llc emptying into one of the container inlet openings 2a.

The trough gate or valve is indicated at a: and is movable to admit fluid or fruit into the trough lie or to prevent such admission, in which event another of the valve Ila: will be opened for recirculation of the fluid into another container.

Each of the containers is provided with a fruit and fluid discharge pipe 22a, swingable to lower its discharge end for directingthe fruit and preserving or circulating liquid into one of the 4 the container to-be filled with fruit is opened;

- also the proper gate valve Hz: is shifted to direct the contents of the trough Nb into the container la.

When the pump is set into operation, liquid will be withdrawn from the bottom of the container and will be discharged into the end oi the ,trough a, and as the fruit is discharged into this trough from the end of the conveyor "a, the liquid will convey the fruitinto the desired container. I

In the emptying oi any particular container of its fruit contents, the valve la will be closed; also the three-way valve will be shifted to its other position. Upon lowering of the discharge pipe 22, the fruit and liquid will be discharged into the trough 2111, the fruit being conveyed by the liquid toward the end of the trough and separated from the liquid by the screen 330 and thus being removed from the trough by the conveyor 32a for subsequent disposal.

'Ifne preserving fluid is passed through the screen 32a and .into the conduits 28a and 28b and is returned by the pump in into the trough Ila and its branches ilb and lie, back to the container again. This recirculation continues until the tank has been completely emptied of its fruit contents.

If it is desired to lower the level of the liquid in the container" being discharged, part of the liquid being returned can be shunted into any one of the other tanks upon partial opening 01' its control gate Hm, this tank under the circumstances serving as a storage container.

Check valves 29a are provided *in this embodiment, as in Fig. 1, to prevent a return flow of the liquid in the pipe 28a upon stoppage oi the impeller pump la.

The particular advantage of my method oi.

handling the fruit will be apparent from the foregoing description wherein I have pointed out that the preserving fluid itself is utilized for conveying the fruit to and from the preserving container,

and in the, arrangement I have eliminated the use of valve devices which would tend to obstruct the discharge conduit or cause injury to the fruit in the discharge of the same from the containers.

By utilizing this same preserving fluid in a recirculating operation, the introduction of the fruit into the container is also facilitated and injury to the fruit more or less prevented by the flotation of the fruit in the liquid stream.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for treating and handling fruit comprising a storage container for holding a preserving liquid, said container having an inlet for charging fruit into the liquid and a discharge outlet below the level of the liquid, means for withdrawing the liquid and fruit from 'said container. and returning the liquid withdrawn to the container at a rate to cause the level of fruit and liquid in the container to progressively fall until contents of the container are completely discharged.

2. In a fruit storing and preserving apparatus of the class described, a storage container adapted to contain a preserving liquid, means exterior of the container for causing circulation of the liquid through the container including an open trough discharging into the upper portion of the container, pump means for withdrawing liquid from the container and discharging the same into one end of the trough, and conveyor age container having an inlet,

means for receiving fruit and discharging the same into the trough.

3. In a fruit handling apparatus of the class described, a storage container adaptedto contain fruit and a preserving liquid, conduit means connected with the container for establishing a circuit oi! the liquid to charge fruit into the container and maintaining a supply of the liquid therein, and means for withdrawing liquid and 'the fruit from the liquid, and recirculating the liquid. I

5. In a fruit handling and storage apparatus of the class described, a storage container, adapted to contain fruits and a preserving liquid, a liquid recirculation means for recirculating the liquid in the container completely, means for introducing fruit into the container, means for preventing recirculation of the fruit with the liquid, recirculation means for discharging fruit and liquid from the container, separating the fruit from the liquid, and recirculating the liquid, and pump means for eilfec'ting said recirculations common to both of said recirculation means.

6. In a fruit handling apparatus, a fruit storage container having an inlet, a screened liquid outlet and a fruit and liquid outlet, an unobstructed discharge conduit connected with the fruit and liquid outlet, a container for receiving the fruit and liquid from said conduit, pump means, a' conduit between said pump means and said last container, means intermediate said pump means and said last container for separating fruit from the liquid, a second conduit connecting the screened outlet with said pump means, a common liquid return conduit between said pump means and said container inlet, and means for introducing fruit into the last mentioned conduit.

7. In a fruit handling apparatus, a fruit stora screened liquid outlet and a fruit and liquid outlet, an unobstructed discharge conduit connected with the fruit and liquid outlet, a container for receiving the fruit and liquid from said conduit, pump means, a conduit between said pump means and said last container, means intermediate said pump means and saidlast container for separating fruit from the liquid, a second conduit connecting the screened outlet with said pump means, a common liquid return conduit between said pump means and said container inlet, means for introducing fruit into the last mentioned conduit, and means regulating the return flow of liquid from said screen outlet and said second container to said pump means.

8. In a fruit handling apparatus, a fruit storage container having an inlet, a screened liquid outlet and a fruit and liquid outlet, an unobstructed discharge conduit connected with the fruit and liquid outlet, a container for receiving the fruit and liquid from said conduit, pump means, a conduit between said pump means and said lastcontainer, means intermediate said pump said circulation conduits, and, means for intromeans and said last container for separating fruit ducing fruit into said circulation conduits befrom the liquid, a second conduit connecting the tween the common pump means and said fruit screened outlet with said pump means and said and liquid inlets.

container inlet, means for introducing fruit into 11. In a fruit handling and storage apparatus 5 q, the last mentioned conduit, an auxiliary liquid of the class described, a plurality of storage constorage container, and means for introducing adtainers each having a screened circulation liquid ditional liquid from said auxiliary storage conoutlet, an unobstructed fruit and liquid outlet at tainer into said conduits. the bottom thereof, a fruit and liquid inlet at the 9. In a fruit handling apparatus, a fruit stortop thereof, a plurality of liquid circulation conm age container having an inlet, a screened liquid duits connecting said screened outlets with said outlet and a fruit and liquid outlet, an unobfruit and liquid inlets, valve means in said constructed discharge conduit connected with the duits for selectively closing any of said outlets iruit and liquid outlet, a container for receiving and any of said inlets, common pump means for the fruit and liquid from said conduit, pump said circulation conduits, means for introducing 15 means, a conduit between said pump means and fruit into said circulation conduits between the said last container, means intermediate said pump common pump means and said fruit and liquid inmeans and said last container for separating lets, a receiving trough for receiving fruit and fruit from the liquid, a second conduit connecting liquid from said unobstructed fruit and liquid outthe screened outlet with said pump means and lets having a liquid return conduit extending 20 said container inle means for introducing fruit therefrom to said pump means, and means interinto the last mentioned conduit, an auxiliary mediate said unobstructed outlets and said liquid qu d o a e co ta ner, means or i troducin return conduit tor removing the fruit from said additional liquid from said auxiliary storage conliquid bein returned to said pump means. tainer into said'conduits, and regulatable means i 12, In a fruit handling apparatus or the class 25 for conve g the l quid rec rcu ated by d described, a, fruit and liquid storage container, a p p m ns i o id o e containerplurality of liquid re-circulation conduits exterior In a fr t han in and Storage apparatus 01 said container, common pump means for said 01 the class described. a plurality of Storage 1 conduits, an unobstructed outlet in said container n 's each h vi S re r i n l q connected to one of said conduits, means in the an u t, a u o c d fruit and liquid Outlet at last conduit for removing fruit from the liquid the bottom thereof, a fruit and liquid inlet at the during said circulation, and a second screened thereof; a plurality of liquid circulation conoutlet in the container connecting the other conduits connecting said screened outlets with said mm, and means for introducing fruit, t be m fruit a d liquid inlets. valve means in said 0011- died into said other conduit for conveyance by duits for e iv y c osi a yo sa d ut ets the re-circulated liquid into said container. and any 0! said inlets, common pump means tor WILLIAM G. 

